Ninety five businesses across Western and South Western NSW, including McDonalds in Parkes, the Parkes Coffee Pot and Parkes Poolside Café, have signed up to participate in next year’s ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme, which will run from March 1 to May 31.
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The scheme offers drivers who have travelled more than one hundred kilometres from the address on their drivers licence a free cup of tea or coffee at any participating business.
Over twenty three local council areas will be working together with RMS and local businesses to implement the successful and multi-award winning ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme in a bid to reduce tired drivers and fatigue related crashes on roads.
Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils' Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that the second biggest killer on NSW roads is from drivers who are tired.
“When you fall asleep behind the wheel you aren’t able to react by slowing down and moving out of the way from hazards ahead, which means the crash is more likely to be fatal,” said Ms Suitor.
The Councils' and RMS promote the scheme and provide participating businesses with branded takeaway cups, banners and all other resources required, whilst the free cuppa itself is provided by the participating businesses.
“If it wasn’t for participating businesses supplying the ‘free cuppa’, then this scheme wouldn’t be possible and I would like to thank the 17 enthusiastic businesses across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council areas who are taking part in next year’s scheme,” said Ms Suitor.
Other registered businesses in the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council taking part are A Classy Touch Café and Florist - Forbes, BP Condobolin, Casho's - Tullamore, Fisho's Hotbake and Takeaway - Lake Cargelligo, Forbes Country Bakehouse, Forbes Inn, McDonalds - Forbes, Pantry and Catering - Forbes, Railway Arts and Crafts - Bogan Gate, Railway Hotel - Condobolin, Subway - Forbes, Temple Lions Patisserie - Peak Hill, Trundle Café and General Store; and Tulli Café - Tullibigeal.
Next year the ‘free cuppa’ takeaway cups will be biodegradable and have one size fits all lids, to minimise the impact this scheme has on the environment.
Drivers can search for the nearest participating business via the new ‘Free Cuppa’ website, freecupp.com.au, as well as find other useful information about the scheme.
"There is also an active Facebook page so you can keep up to date on the scheme and its participating businesses," Ms Suitor said.
Since the scheme’s inception in 2010, over 6,700 free cuppas have been provided to eligible drivers and over 850,000 Facebook reaches have been made.
